Quest

Official Quests are sanctioned events by the Aethersea Adventurer's Association), and are officially documented as a Writ of Questing. These actions can be, and often are, Sanctioned and categorized cum eo - after the fact. Until they are actual Quests, they are merely Stories (perhaps even Good Stories!)
One or more Notable Deeds must have been acknowledged for a Story to be a candidate for Quest Status:

• Vanquish a Notable Foe
• Return with Great Wealth
• Save (or Rescue) a Life
• Complete a Vow of Consequence
• Perform a Great Boon (beneficence to the greater community).

(It’s readily acknowledged that what is Notable for one may not be Notable for another, based on their prior record and/or the estimable ease of its accomplishment).
Orders of Quests are

• Quests
• Great Quests
• Epic Quests
• Most Epic Quests

Below Quests are Tales of Renown - items thought to be Noteworthy but not of true Quest material. Some Tales of Renown are awarded Quest status posthumously.

Sanctioned Events

The most important aspect of a Quest is whether or not it is Sanctioned, meaning the task was supported by a lawfully appointed agency. Any Aethersea Guild or Government can Sanction an action, however, they expose themselves to bureaucratic and/or legal scrutiny, especially if the sanction is performed cum eo.

Sanction = Contract

Sanctioned activities afford the event participants some degree of legal protection (after all, they are mostly agents of the desired action), but also give legal protection for the benefactors. First and foremost, a Sanctioned Event is a Contract entered into by both parties where it was agreed that they would perform such and such an action. It clearly states what the event is and what the dividend of prizes (if applicable) shall be.

Dark Quests

There are many tasks which must be documented but one or both parties cannot afford for it to be connected to them. Such events are called Dark Quests. They are kept under seal until such time as the event can no longer be legally leveraged against the protected party or parties. Only Guildmasters and high level Government officials can legally sanction Dark Quests.
Why accept a Dark Quest? Weaker parties are protected by a sanctioned Dark Quest should things go sideways. One party can never disavow knowledge of the task. The Recorders are arbitrators of all Dark Quests.

Participants

In order for a Quest to become official, it must be accepted by the Order of Comentariis and ratified by a Principalos (an Adventuring Family Leader).